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Freshlyground banned from Zimbabwe

The regime of Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe has banned South African band Freshlyground from touring the country. The president was angry that they mocked him in the video “Chicken for Change” which seems to criticise his stubborn clinging to power.

However, this has triggered a huge upsurge in views of their video on YouTube.

Freshlyground were, according to News24.com, due to play at the Harare International Festival of the Arts, but were refused entry at the country over inexplained ‘delays’ to the processing of their work permits.

“Chicken to Change” was originally released on the group’s celebrated “Radio Africa” album ahead of the 2010 Soccer World Cup, following which the band decided not to include Zimbabwe in their 2011 world tour.

At the time, Freshlyground lead singer, Zolani Mahoba, told the exiled opposition newspaper, The Zimbabwean:

“We had wanted to tour Zimbabwe but it would not be a good idea to do so following the issues around the song. The song is about Mugabe who is opposed to change. He is chicken to change.”

Three years later, Mugabe is still too “chicken” to change, and has a long and spiteful memory.

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